#  The Committee on Australian Studies, Harvard University 

 



   ![harvard-university](/sites/g/files/omnuum10876/files/styles/hwp_1_1__720x720_scale/public/harvaus/files/harvard-university.jpg?itok=gL4a_V38) 

 

**The Visiting Professorship in Australian Studies** was established by a gift from the Australian Government to Harvard in 1976, in commemoration of America's Bicentennial, "in order to maintain such teaching, research and publication as will help to promote awareness and understanding of Australia in the United States of America."  
  
Since that time, Harvard has invited distinguished visiting scholars, on an annual basis, to hold the Chair in Australian Studies at Harvard. The holder of the Chair presents courses and seminars on topics related to Australia and its culture. More information can be found [here](/gough_fraser_chair).  
  
In addition, the Committee for Australian Studies also funds conferences, exhibitions, readings, and other academic and artistic events which have a connection to Australia. The Committee also funds a small number of scholarships to support research at the honors and doctoral level by Harvard students.



 

####  In The News 

 



  [### Professor Anne Pender from Adelaide University will visit Harvard University’s Division of Arts and Humanities as the Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Chair of Australian Studies in the 2027-2028 academic year

 ](/news/2026/05/professor-anne-pender-adelaide-university-will-visit-harvard-universitys-division-arts) May 05, 2026 

 As a leading scholar of modern and contemporary Australian literature and theatre, Professor Pender will contribute to the Theatre, Dance and Media programme of study at Harvard University. She will offer courses on comedy and satire in Australian... 

 

 

   ![Anne Pender](/sites/g/files/omnuum10876/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2026-05/Professor-Anne-Pender-750-x-750_0.jpg?itok=S5ymb5le) 

 



 

 

   [### Historian Kirsten McKenzie appointed Harvard Visiting Professor

 ](/news/2025/05/historian-kirsten-mckenzie-appointed-harvard-visiting-professor) May 13, 2025 

 Kirsten McKenzie will take up the prestigious role of Harvard University’s Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Visiting Professor of Australian Studies for 2026-7. Professor Kirsten McKenzie holds the Chair in Australian History at the University of Sydney’s... 

 

 

   ![Professor Kirsten McKenzie](/sites/g/files/omnuum10876/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/2025-06/Professor%20Kirsten%20McKenzie.jpeg?h=a879541e&itok=NK2et0ht) 

 



 

 

   [### University of Copenhagen Professor awarded distinguished visiting Chair at Harvard

 ](/news/saxo-professor-awarded-distinguished-visiting-chair-harvard) June 04, 2024 

 Professor Stuart Ward will visit Harvard University’s History Department as the Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser Chair of Australian Studies for the 2025-2026 academic year. As a leading historian of 19th and 20th century empire, specializing in the... 

 

 

   ![Stuart Ward](/sites/g/files/omnuum10876/files/styles/hwp_16_9__480x270/public/stuart_ward.jpg?h=3d74fb01&itok=_9tWqXq2)